This blog is devoted to the What Are Y(H2)O Drinking campaign to bring clean, safe water to Ethiopia. All donations made through this site go to Chris Guillebeau’s charity partner for 2010 – Charity: Water. 100% of donations go straight to empowering the people of Africa to build wells in their communities.

Why Water?

Imagine that your first child is born. You are thrilled, but you don’t name her yet. You don’t want to get too attached because chances are good that she will die before the age of three.

Remember yourself as a ten-year-old. You wanted to play with your friends, were just getting your first crush, and your biggest problem was your pesky brother. Now your mother has died after a battle with dysentery. She was 28. Your life expectancy is only 39 years old. This is your life as a child in Ethiopia.

How much money do we spend in America to save people’s lives from illness? Billions. The most dangerous diseases that we think about are cancer, AIDS, heart disease and others. Think about how many people those diseases effect. Now consider this. Water-borne illnesses make up 80% of disease in the world.

80% OF THE DISEASE ON EARTH COMES FROM BAD WATER AND SANITATION

And we can prevent that disease. We can keep 80% of the people who get sick each year from ever getting that disease.

WE CAN SAVE 80% OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET SICK

And it doesn’t cost very much. It costs far less than the money that we currently spend on drugs to make our eyelashes grow, curb our appetites, and increase our sexual stamina. It costs $20 to provide 20 years of clean water.

IT ONLY COSTS $20

That’s one week of Starbucks, one dinner for two at Chile’s, one bottle of wine, or one movie night for two, plus popcorn. $100 saves the whole family.

But we’re not asking you to just give your money. The idea behind WhatAreY(H2)Ou Drinking is not just to raise money, but to bring people together. Stay tuned to this blog to find out about exclusive rooftop parties in New York, weekend getaways in the Rockies, and intimate meetups with your favorite bloggers. Subscribe to the blog to make sure that you don’t miss even one exciting opportunity.